Armando Venegas moves north as principal

Intermountain Catholic

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Armando Venegas is trading a three-hour-a-day commute for a school six blocks from his home. He becomes principal of Saint Joseph Elementary School, Ogden. IC photo by Barbara S. Lee

SALT LAKE CITY — Two years ago, when Armando Venegas, his wife, Elsa, and their four children moved from California to Utah so Venegas could become principal of Our Lady of Lourdes Elementary School in Salt Lake City, they settled in Ogden, thinking the daily drive would not be that difficult. Then, it started to snow.

The commute isn’t the only reason, but it’s a big reason why Venegas applied for the job as principal of Saint Joseph Elementary School. The school is just six blocks from their house.

"I’ve visited with the teachers and staff at St. Joseph Elementary School," Venegas said in an April 23 interview with the Intermountain Catholic. "St. Joseph Elementary used to be on two campuses. Now they’re back on one campus on Quincy Avenue."

St. Joseph Elementary School is a pre-kindergarten through grade eight school, the elementary school farthest north in the Catholic school system of the Diocese of Salt Lake City. With Saint Joseph High School nearby on Lake Street, Ogden Catholic students don’t have to travel far to get to school.

"We found out I’d been chosen for the St. Joseph position in early March," Venegas said. "Elsa was thrilled and I’m very happy. It will be so much nicer not to have to commute three hours a day."

Venegas said he has loved Our Lady of Lourdes School, with its diversity, its close-knit families, and its wonderful students. "I’ve even cut the commute down by taking the early express bus from Ogden to the University of Utah, then walking to campus. My two years at Lourdes have been good years. The faculty there really works to help the children to succeed – not only in reading and math, but also in all subjects. The faculty is excellent.

"Our Lady of Lourdes Elementary School has great diversity," he said. "Socio-economically, racially, and even religiously. They’re 70 percent Catholic and 30 percent other faiths. Capital improvements are always a challenge, but students, teachers, and parents always pitch in to keep the school nice and help it grow inasmuch as it can grow."

Venegas said he has enjoyed a good relationship with Our Lady of Lourdes Parish Pastor Father William Flegge, who has retired recently due to poor health.

"Fr. Flegge loves the students so much. They have missed the interaction with him. The teachers and students celebrated his birthday with cards and balloons and flowers. He appreciated that."

Now Venegas is looking forward to building on the great reputation of St. Joseph Elementary School, following in the footsteps of Louise Price, and working closely with Norman Allred, principal of St. Joseph High School, and Father Kenneth Vialpando, pastor of Saint Joseph Parish in Ogden.

"St. Joseph Elementary School also has a diverse population," Venegas said. "It has a close community in a smaller city. Our nearest Catholic school is Saint Olaf in Bountiful."

It was the smaller city setting of Ogden that drew the Venegas family to settle there, to go to Mass at Saint Mary Church, and watch that parish build its new church in West Haven. "We found Ogden Valley to be very nice and cozy," he said

"It’s a real honor to be chosen principal of St. Joseph, and I want to keep building it up to be the best elementary school in Ogden and the primary feeder school to St. Joseph High School. There is room at St. Joseph to expand with the population growth. The school is beginning its second phase of construction, which will include an auditorium and gymnasium. I look forward to working closely with the development director on the project.

St. Joseph Elementary School has 500 students, compared to the 205 students at Our Lady of Lourdes. Both schools "use every square inch to the max," he said.

Venegas said he also looks forward to working in the same school where their children will be students – Angelo, 8; Paolo, 6; Isabella, 4; and Lorenzo, 2.

"St. Joseph Elementary is a regional school," Venegas said. "I plan on working with all the pastors in all the parishes. Ogden has a great deal of diversity, and it’s a close community. Those words characterize St. Joseph Elementary School as well. I’m honored to be going up there."